Maersk Supply dominates the
European support vessel market, and every other European Company
takes a second or lesser place. There are potential rivals now that the
American owners have started to build and buy large ships.

Maersk operates a fleet of
vessels divided between the Danish and UK flags. Their first toehold in
the support vessel market was with a fleet of four small platform ships,
but it all changed when they built the Maersk Ruler Class which entered
service in about 1978. Those vessels were then the most powerful ships in
the world.

The
Maersk fleet continues to increase in size and
horsepower, to the point that it is quite difficult to
keep track of what is going on, and worse, manage to
record it. But I have done my best, and think that I
have managed to capture most of it.

Because Maersk have not
chosen to separate their UK, Danish and South American
fleets, and if it comes to that Canadian fleets they are
all listed here. At the time of the 2013 review it has
become more difficult to determine whether the fleet
list remains the same, but we think it does. There are
also a number of new buildings taking place.

At the 2014 review it was
seen that the company have sold a couple of ships and
sent one at least to the breakers. Otherwise things are
pretty stable with only a couple of what they would call
"Fleet Support Vessels" being built.

These vessels were all built at Orskov
and spent some time bareboated to OIL, but at the end of the contract
period they were purchased by Maersk.

TYPE: VS
476

NAME:
Maersk Champion

PHOTO:
Tony Poll

General

Propulsion

Deck Equip

Length OA

76.4 m

Engines

4 x B&W Alpha

Workdrum pull

300t

Breadth

17.61 m

BHP

14400

Capacity 1

1200m x 74mm

DWT

2440 t

kW

10600

Capacity 2

Deck area

633 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x
1200 bhp

Towdrum pull

350t

Fuel

1398 m3

Az Thruster

Capacity 1

1400m x 64mm

Pot water

508 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x
1200 bhp

Capacity 2

1400m x 64mm

Mud

618 m3

Bollard pull

160
tonnes

Sharks Jaw

Base oil

213 m3

DP

Cranes

Brine

619 m3

Joystick

Robertson

Tank Cleaning

None

Dry bulk

284m3

Year built

1986

Shipyard

Orskov

Former Names

Kongsgaad, Oil
Champion

Comments

These vessels were all built at Orskov
and spent some time bareboated to OIL, but at the end of the contract
period they were purchased by Maersk.

TYPE:
MAERSK D Type

NAME:
Maersk Dispatcher

PHOTO: Vic Gibson,
Jan Plug, Perry
White

General

Propulsion

Deck Equip

Length OA

89.3 m

Engines

4 x MAK
8M/6M 32

Workdrum pull

400 t

Breadth

20.6 m

BHP

18280

Capacity 1

4000m x 77mm

DWT

4050 t

kW

13440

Capacity 2

-

Deck area

755 m2

For'd Thruster

1 x
1200 bhp

Towdrum pull

400
t

Fuel

2166 m3

Az Thruster

1 x
1200 bhp

Capacity 1

2500m x 77mm

Pot water

803 m3

Aft Thrusters

2 x
950 bhp

Capacity 2

2500m x 77mm

Mud

480 m3

Bollard pull

219
t

Sharks Jaw

2 x
Triplex

Base oil

260
m3

DPII

Simrad SDP 21

Cranes

2 x 6.5 t

Brine

475
m3

Joystick

Yes

Tank Cleaning

-

Dry bulk

282 m3

Year built

2006

Shipyard

Volksverft?

Former Names

Comments

TYPE:
Maersk D Type

NAME:
Maersk Detector

PHOTO: Vic Gibson

General

Propulsion

Deck Equip

Length OA

89.3 m

Engines

4 x MAK
8M/6M 32

Workdrum pull

400 t

Breadth

20.6 m

BHP

18280

Capacity 1

4000m x 77mm

DWT

4050 t

kW

13440

Capacity 2

-

Deck area

755 m2

For'd Thruster

1 x
1200 bhp

Towdrum pull

400
t

Fuel

2166 m3

Az Thruster

1 x
1200 bhp

Capacity 1

2500m x 77mm

Pot water

803 m3

Aft Thrusters

2 x
950 bhp

Capacity 2

2500m x 77mm

Mud

480 m3

Bollard pull

219
t

Sharks Jaw

2 x
Triplex

Base oil

260
m3

DPII

Simrad SDP 21

Cranes

2 x 6.5 t

Brine

475
m3

Joystick

Yes

Tank Cleaning

-

Dry bulk

282 m3

Year built

2006

Shipyard

Volksverft?

Former Names

Comments

TYPE: UT 722L

NAME: Maersk Handler

PHOTO: George Craigen,
Tony Poll

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

80 m

Engines

2 x Wärtsilä

Workdrum pull

500 tonnes

Breadth

18 m

BHP

17500

Capacity 1

9100m x 76mm

DWT

2618
t

kW

12880

Capacity 2

Deck area

525 m2

For'd Thruster

1 x 1200 bhp

Towdrum pull

500 tonnes

Fuel

590 m3

Az Thruster

1 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 1

9600m x 76mm

Pot water

500 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

445 m3

Bollard pull

197 tonnes

Sharks Jaw

2
x Triplex

Brine

500 m3

DP

Class
1

Cranes

2
x hydraulic

Dry bulk

284 m3

Joystick

Yes

Shipyard

Langsten
Slip

Year built

2002

Tank cleaning

None

Former Names

Comments

TYPE: UT 722L

NAME: Maersk Helper

PHOTO: George Craigen,
Kenny Polson, Tony Poll

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

80 m

Engines

2 x Wärtsilä

Workdrum pull

500 tonnes

Breadth

18 m

BHP

17500

Capacity 1

9100m x 76mm

DWT

2618
t

kW

12880

Capacity 2

Deck area

525 m2

For'd Thruster

1 x 1200 bhp

Towdrum pull

500 tonnes

Fuel

590 m3

Az Thruster

1 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 1

9600m x 76mm

Pot water

500 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

445 m3

Bollard pull

197 tonnes

Sharks Jaw

2
x Triplex

Brine

500 m3

DP

Class
1

Cranes

2
x hydraulic

Dry bulk

284 m3

Joystick

Yes

Shipyard

Langsten
Slip

Year built

2002

Tank cleaning

None

Former Names

Comments

TYPE: HUSKY 83

NAME: Maersk
Chignecto

PHOTO: Vic
Gibson

General

Propulsion

Deck Equip

Length OA

71.50 m

Engines

4 x MAK 6M453

Workdrum pull

275 tonnes pull

Breadth

16.00 m

BHP

10880

Capacity 1

800m x 77mm

DWT

2500 tonnes

Kw

8000

Capacity 2

800m x 77mm

Deck area

475 m2

For'd Thrusters

2 x 800 bhp

Towdrum pull

275 t

Fuel

1008 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

1300m x 77mm

Pot water

640 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 800 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

320 m3

Bollard pull

125 tonnes

Sharks Jaw

Triplex/Karmfork

Base oil

165 m3

DP

Cranes

Brine

204 m3

Joystick

Kamewa

Tank Cleaning

-

Dry bulk

276 m3

Year built

1983

Shipyard

Hyundai Korea

Former Names

Chignecto Bay

Comments

-

TYPE: HUSKY 83

NAME: Maersk
Placentia

PHOTO:

General

Propulsion

Deck Equip

Length OA

71.50 m

Engines

4 x MAK 6M453

Workdrum pull

275 tonnes pull

Breadth

16.00 m

BHP

10880

Capacity 1

800m x 77mm

DWT

2500 tonnes

Kw

8000

Capacity 2

800m x 77mm

Deck area

475 m2

For'd Thrusters

2 x 800 bhp

Towdrum pull

275 t

Fuel

1008 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

1300m x 77mm

Pot water

640 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 800 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

320 m3

Bollard pull

125 tonnes

Sharks Jaw

Triplex/Karmfork

Base oil

165 m3

DP

Cranes

Brine

204 m3

Joystick

Kamewa

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

276 m3

Year built

1983

Shipyard

Former Names

Placentia Bay,
Maersk Shipper

Comments

TYPE: VWS Series

NAME: Maersk Leader

PHOTO: Vic Gibson

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

90.3 m

Engines

4 x MAK 9M32C

Workdrum pull

500 t

Breadth

23.0 m

BHP

23175

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

DWT

4470 t

kW

17040

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Deck area

800 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 2040 bhp

Towdrum pull

500 t

Fuel

983 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

Pot water

611 m3

Aft Thrusters

2 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Mud

-

Bollard pull

265 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Brine

-

DPII

Yes

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

130 m3

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

2009

Shipyard

Volksverft Stral

Previous names

-

Comments

-

TYPE: MAERSK L

NAME: Maersk Logger

PHOTO: Phil Brown,

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

90.3 m

Engines

4 x MAK 9M32C

Workdrum pull

500 t

Breadth

23.0 m

BHP

23175

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

DWT

4470 t

kW

17040

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Deck area

800 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 2040 bhp

Towdrum pull

500 t

Fuel

983 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

Pot water

611 m3

Aft Thrusters

2 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Mud

-

Bollard pull

265 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Brine

-

DPII

Yes

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

130 m3

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

2009

Shipyard

Volksverft Stral

Previous names

-

Comments

-

TYPE: MAERSK L

NAME: Maersk Lifter

PHOTO: Gaetano Spiteri

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

90.3 m

Engines

4 x MAK 9M32C

Workdrum pull

500 t

Breadth

23.0 m

BHP

23175

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

DWT

4470 t

kW

17040

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Deck area

800 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 2040 bhp

Towdrum pull

500 t

Fuel

983 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

Pot water

611 m3

Aft Thrusters

2 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Mud

-

Bollard pull

265 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Brine

-

DPII

Yes

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

130 m3

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

2009

Shipyard

Volksverft Stral

Previous names

-

Comments

-

TYPE: MAERSK L

NAME: Maersk Launcher

PHOTO: Jan Plug

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

90.3 m

Engines

4 x MAK 9M32C

Workdrum pull

500 t

Breadth

23.0 m

BHP

23175

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

DWT

4470 t

kW

17040

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Deck area

800 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 2040 bhp

Towdrum pull

500 t

Fuel

983 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

Pot water

611 m3

Aft Thrusters

2 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Mud

-

Bollard pull

265 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Brine

-

DPII

Yes

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

130 m3

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

2010

Shipyard

Volksverft Stral

Previous names

-

Comments

-

TYPE: MAERSK L

NAME: Maersk Lancer

PHOTO: Scott Boulter

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

90.3 m

Engines

4 x MAK 9M32C

Workdrum pull

500 t

Breadth

23.0 m

BHP

23175

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

DWT

4470 t

kW

17040

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Deck area

800 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 2040 bhp

Towdrum pull

500 t

Fuel

983 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

Pot water

611 m3

Aft Thrusters

2 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Mud

-

Bollard pull

265 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Brine

-

DPII

Yes

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

130 m3

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

2010

Shipyard

Volksverft Stral

Previous names

-

Comments

-

TYPE: MAERSK L

NAME: Maersk Laser

PHOTO: Udo Herkenrath, Alex Simpson

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

90.3 m

Engines

4 x MAK 9M32C

Workdrum pull

500 t

Breadth

23.0 m

BHP

23175

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

DWT

4470 t

kW

17040

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Deck area

800 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 2040 bhp

Towdrum pull

500 t

Fuel

983 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

6450m x 84mm

Pot water

611 m3

Aft Thrusters

2 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 2

3210m x 84mm

Mud

-

Bollard pull

265 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Brine

-

DPII

Yes

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

130 m3

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

2010

Shipyard

Volksverft Stral

Previous names

-

Comments

-

TYPE: ME
606

NAME:
Maersk Promoter

PHOTO:
Andrew
Woodrow,
Tony
Poll

General

Propulsion

Deck Equip

Length OA

76.0 m

Engines

4 x Wartsila

Workdrum pull

350 t

Breadth

17.2 m

BHP

15600

Capacity 1

2000m x 77mm

DWT

3393 t

kW

11470

Capacity 2

2000m x 77mm

Deck area

607 m2

For'd Thruster

1 x 1000
bhp

Towdrum pull

350t

Fuel

543 m3

Az Thruster

1 x 1080
bhp

Capacity 1

2000m x 77mm

Pot water

625 m3

Aft Thrusters

1
x 1200
bhp

Capacity 2

2000m x
77mm

Mud

504 m3

Bollard pull

198 t

Sharks Jaw

2 x
Triplex

Base oil

314 m3

DPI

Alstrom
900

Cranes

1 x 2t

Brine

569 m3

Joystick

KaMeWa

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

313 m3

Year built

1992

Shipyard

Soeviknes Verft

Former Names

-

Comments

These vessels
are known by Maersk as the large "P"s

TYPE: ME
606

NAME:
Maersk Puncher

PHOTO:
George
Craigen

General

Propulsion

Deck Equipment

Length OA

76.0 m

Engines

4 x Wartsila

Workdrum pull

350 t

Breadth

17.2 m

BHP

15600

Capacity 1

2000m x 77mm

DWT

3393 t

kW

11470

Capacity 2

2000m x 77mm

Deck area

607 m2

For'd Thruster

1 x 1000
bhp

Towdrum pull

350t

Fuel

543 m3

Az Thruster

1 x 1080
bhp

Capacity 1

2000m x 77mm

Pot water

625 m3

Aft Thrusters

1
x 1200
bhp

Capacity 2

2000m x
77mm

Mud

504 m3

Bollard pull

198 t

Sharks Jaw

2 x
Triplex

Base oil

314 m3

DPI

Alstrom
900

Cranes

1 x 2t

Brine

569 m3

Joystick

KaMeWa

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

313 m3

Year built

1992

Shipyard

Soeviknes Verft

Former Names

-

Comments

These vessels
are known by Maersk as the large "P"s

TYPE: ME
303

NAME:
Maersk Pacer

PHOTO:
Jan
Plug,
Bob
Smith,
Joshua
Stack

General

Propulsion

Deck EquipMENT

Length OA

73.6 m

Engines

4 x Wartsila

Workdrum pull

350 t

Breadth

16.4 m

BHP

15600

Capacity 1

1815m x 77mm

DWT

2780 t

kW

11470

Capacity 2

1815m x 77mm

Deck area

543 m2

For'd Thruster

1 x 1000
bhp

Towdrum pull

350t

Fuel

647 m3

Az Thruster

1 x 1080
bhp

Capacity 1

1936m x 77mm

Pot water

557 m3

Aft Thrusters

1
x 1200
bhp

Capacity 2

1936m x
77mm

Mud

520 m3

Bollard pull

180 t

Sharks Jaw

2 x
Triplex

Base oil

286 m3

DP

Cranes

1 x 2t

Brine

478 m3

Joystick

KaMeWa

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

284 m3

Year built

1991

Shipyard

Soeviknes Verft

Former Names

-

Comments

These vessels
are known by Maersk as the small "P"s

TYPE: ME
303

NAME:
Maersk Provider

PHOTO:
Tony
Poll

General

Propulsion

Deck EquipMENT

Length OA

73.6 m

Engines

4 x Wartsila

Workdrum pull

350 t

Breadth

16.4 m

BHP

15600

Capacity 1

1815m x 77mm

DWT

2780 t

kW

11470

Capacity 2

1815m x 77mm

Deck area

543 m2

For'd Thruster

1 x 1000
bhp

Towdrum pull

350t

Fuel

647 m3

Az Thruster

1 x 1080
bhp

Capacity 1

1936m x 77mm

Pot water

557 m3

Aft Thrusters

1
x 1200
bhp

Capacity 2

1936m x
77mm

Mud

520 m3

Bollard pull

180 t

Sharks Jaw

2 x
Triplex

Base oil

286 m3

DP

Cranes

1 x 2t

Brine

478 m3

Joystick

KaMeWa

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

284 m3

Year built

1991

Shipyard

Soeviknes Verft

Former Names

-

Comments

These vessels
are known by Maersk as the small "P"s

TYPE: MAERSK
R
(L)

NAME:
MAERSK ROVER

PHOTO:
Alan
Souteer, Andrew
Woodrow,
Tony
Poll

General

Propulsion

Deck EquipMENT

Length OA

67.11 m

Engines

4 x MAK
8M453AK

Workdrum pull

260 t

Breadth

15.51 m

BHP

14400

Capacity 1

1200m x 77mm

DWT

1925 t

kW

10588

Capacity 2

-

Deck area

462.5 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 600 bhp

Towdrum pull

260 t

Fuel

710 m3

Az Thruster

1 x 1080 bhp

Capacity 1

1100m x 77mm

Pot water

339 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 800 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

276 m3

Bollard pull

149 t

Sharks Jaw

2 x Triplex

Base oil

-

DP

Cranes

Brine

197 m3

Joystick

Nautronix

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

209 m3

Year built

1982

Shipyard

Odense Denmark

Former Names

-

Comments

-

TYPE: MAERSK S

NAME: Maersk Searcher

PHOTO: Maersk Searcher, Jan Plug

general

Propulsion

Deck EquipMENT

Length OA

82 m

Engines

4 x MAK 8M32

Workdrum pull

350 tonnes

Breadth

15.5 m

BHP

18250

Capacity 1

4000 m x 77mm

DWT

3490 tonnes

kW

13420

Capacity 2

4000m x 77mm

Deck area

620 m2

For'd Thruster

1 x 1200 bhp

Towdrum pull

Fuel

1577 m3

Az Thruster

1 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 1

2500m x 77mm

Pot water

748 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 1200 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

496 m3

Bollard pull

210 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Base oil

DPII

Kongsberg SDPII

Cranes

2

Brine

Joystick

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

496 m3

Year Built

1999

Shipyard

Singmarine

Former Names

-

Comments

The Maersk Searcher is one
of six "S" class vessels delivered in the latter part of 1999 and early in 2000.
She was built at Keppel Singmarine in Singapore and once her trials were completed she
sailed straight to Aberdeen via the Suez Canal. She is one of the UK Maersk fleet and so
is registered in the Isle of Man.

Although the S class are later
additions to the Maersk fleet than the impressive B class, from which their design is
obviously derived, their 4 MAK engines develop slightly less power, providing 18,250 BHP
and in the Maersk Searcher's case a bollard pull of 210 tonnes. This is probably the first
time that the Maersk Company have brought out a class of anchor-handlers of lesser power
than the previous newbuildings and suggests that the industry considers that 200 tonnes of
bollard pull is good for what-ever you wish to do.

In addition to the main propulsion
the Searcher is provided with a 1200 BHP tunnel thruster at the bow and the stern and a
1200 BHP azimuthing thruster at the bow. The azimuthing thruster has proved particularly
useful in adverse weather because it is deeper in the water and so is less likely to draw
air as the ship pitches. One of the downsides of operating such large vessels is the
windage created by the accommodation, and sometimes all the thrust which is available is
required in order to maintain station. The joystick is also provided with an
"anchor-handling mode." This reduces thruster activity apart from the azimuthing
thruster which is set to thrust astern with small changes to port and starboard to
maintain the heading.

The heart of any anchor-handler is
the winch and, due initially to the known lead time required for low pressure hydraulic
winches, the company opted for electric winches. The winch on the Searcher has proved
itself in anger and the design seems to have overcome the traditional difficulties of
electric winches. When lowering anchors to the seabed the old electric winches had to be
operated on the brake because otherwise the motors would turn into generators and blow up
parts of the ship's electrical systems. The winch on the Maersk Searcher is actually
designed to turn the motors into generators, excess power being dissipated through
resistor banks which turn it into heat.

The work drum is large enough to
take the 2000 meter work wire which was required for the Sovereign Explorer job and one of
the two tow drums is used as a work drum for lesser activities, so that the main workwire
remains undamaged due to contact with shackles links and other connections.

Since starting work in the UK
sector the ship has been variously employed as the state of the market and the
requirements for different types of vessel have changed. At the other end of the scale
from the Sovereign Explorer job was a supply run to a jack-up and somewhere in the middle
was the changing of the crude oil delivery hose on the Maureen field's ALC (Articulated
Loading Column). The ship was employed for this task because of its DP capability, being
fitted with a Kongsberg DP system and MDL Fanbeam.

The ship was required to maintain
station directly under the end of the loading arm during the change-over of the hoses to
prevent putting any extra loading on the winch, but when it came to it, the target for the
Fanbeam was on at too great an elevation and so DGPS was used instead. No problems were
experienced throughout the operation, the ship maintaining station within one meter, and
the ALC turned out to be in the right place on the surface of the planet.

Like all the very large ships
which are now being provided to service the needs of the oil industry, the specification
of the Maersk Searcher seems to include anything that anyone could possible require for
any job. She has split rollers to ease the task of connecting two parts of a mooring
system; she has two enormous chain lockers and provision is made to handle chain sizes
from 3" to 6". She has three cranes, two at the forward end of the deck for
heavy work and one small Palfinger two tonne crane at the port side aft, to assist with
making and breaking connections at the Triplex sharks jaws.

For the carriage of cargo the ship
offers over 600 square meters of deck space, which for some reason seems to be the magic
figure when it comes to hiring platform ships and can carry large quantities of bulk
cargo, the most significant of which might be the ability to carry over 4000 barrels of
liquid mud in four cylindrical tanks. This is the sort of quantity required for drilling a
deep water well due to the extra length of riser.

Up on the bridge the Master and
Chief Engineer are provided with a bewildering number of VDUs to look at everything from
the ship's position on the surface of the earth to the gearing of the winch. The Chief has
four screens for the winch alone, however the electronics assist in the operation of the
ship and typically he can select a specific drum on the winch and the system carries out
the clutching out and clutching in without anything further being required. But despite
all the equipment the bridge is extremely spacious and any visitor would be re-assured by
the presence of a small conference table which easily fits in the bridge wing. Even in
this electronic age proper communication is still taking place.

These words first appeared in the
Offshore Support Journal in August 2000

These ships
were originally FEDNAV vessels and
on their arrival in UK in the early 1980s were managed by Star Offshore.
When they came up for sale they were bought by Maersk who were at that time
buying everything in sight.

TYPE: ut 708

NAME:
Maersk Tackler

PHOTO:

Picture Required

General

Propulsion

Deck Equipment

Length OA

68.53m

Engines

4 x Bergen KVMB12

Workdrum pull

260 t

Breadth

14.5m

BHP

12240

Capacity 1

800m x 77mm

DWT

1505 t

kW

9000

Capacity 2

800m x 77mm

Deck area

410.3 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 800 bhp

Towdrum pull

260 t

Fuel

914 m3

Az Thruster

Capacity 1

1000m x 77mm

Pot water

382 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 800 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

Bollard pull

120 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Base oil

DP

Cranes

Brine

Joystick

Ulstein robertson

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

290m3

Year built

1983

Shipyard

Hyundai Korea

Former Names

Tawaki

Comments

These ships
were originally FEDNAV vessels and
on their arrival in UK in the early 1980s were managed by Star Offshore.
When they came up for sale they were bought by Maersk who were at that time
buying everything in sight.

TYPE: ut 708

NAME:
Maersk Topper

PHOTO: Andrew Woodrow

General

Propulsion

Deck Equipment

Length OA

68.53m

Engines

4 x Bergen KVMB12

Workdrum pull

260 t

Breadth

14.5m

BHP

12240

Capacity 1

800m x 77mm

DWT

1505 t

kW

9000

Capacity 2

800m x 77mm

Deck area

410.3 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 800 bhp

Towdrum pull

260 t

Fuel

914 m3

Az Thruster

Capacity 1

1000m x 77mm

Pot water

382 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 800 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

Bollard pull

120 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Base oil

DP

Cranes

Brine

Joystick

Ulstein robertson

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

290m3

Year built

1983

Shipyard

Hyundai Korea

Former Names

Toanui

Comments

These ships
were originally FEDNAV vessels and
on their arrival in UK in the early 1980s were managed by Star Offshore.
When they came up for sale they were bought by Maersk who were at that time
buying everything in sight.

TYPE: ut 708

NAME:
Maersk Trader

PHOTO:

Picture Required

General

Propulsion

Deck Equipment

Length OA

68.53m

Engines

4 x Bergen KVMB12

Workdrum pull

260 t

Breadth

14.5m

BHP

12240

Capacity 1

800m x 77mm

DWT

1505 t

kW

9000

Capacity 2

800m x 77mm

Deck area

410.3 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 800 bhp

Towdrum pull

260 t

Fuel

914 m3

Az Thruster

Capacity 1

1000m x 77mm

Pot water

382 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 800 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

Bollard pull

120 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Base oil

DP

Cranes

Brine

Joystick

Ulstein robertson

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

290m3

Year built

1983

Shipyard

Hyundai Korea

Former Names

Arctic Shiko,
Torea

Comments

These ships
were originally FEDNAV vessels and
on their arrival in UK in the early 1980s were managed by Star Offshore.
When they came up for sale they were bought by Maersk who were at that time
buying everything in sight.

TYPE: MAERSK R TYPE

NAME:
Maersk Reliance

PHOTO: Vic Gibson, Scott Vardy

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

105.8 m

Engines

-

Workdrum pull

-

Breadth

20.0 m

BHP

10400 bhp

Capacity 1

-

DWT

7970 t

kW

7650

Capacity 2

-

Deck area

-

For'd Thruster

1 x 1360 bhp

Accomm berths

-

Fuel

-

Az Thruster

1 x 1500 bhp

Storage capacity

-

Pot water

-

Aft Thusters

2 x 1200 bhp

ROV

-

Mud

-

Bollard pull

-

Diving Capability

-

Brine

-

DP II

-

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

-

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

2001

Shipyard

-

Previous names

-

Comments

Sold to
a cable company in the Far East

type: MAERSK D

name: Maersk Dee

PHOTO: Bob Smith, Vic Gibson, Jan Plug

General

Propulsion

Cargo Capacity

Length OA

56.64m

Engines

MAK

Fuel

Breadth

14.6m

BHP

Pot water

DWT

1637t

For'd Thrusters

2

Mud

Deck area

Aft Thrusters

1

Base oil

Joystick

Brine

Year built

2000

DP

Dry bulk

Shipyard

Odense

Tank Cleaning

Previous Names

Comments

type: MAERSK D

name: Maersk Don

PHOTO: Vic Gibson

General

Propulsion

Cargo Capacity

Length OA

56.64m

Engines

MAK

Fuel

Breadth

14.6m

BHP

Pot water

DWT

1637t

For'd Thrusters

2

Mud

Deck area

Aft Thrusters

1

Base oil

Joystick

Brine

Year built

2000

DP

Dry bulk

Shipyard

Odense

Tank Cleaning

Previous Names

Comments

TYPE: Maersk L Type

NAME: Maersk Leader

PHOTO: Jan Plug

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

69.7 m

Engines

2 x MAK 8M35

Workdrum pull

250 t

Breadth

15.9 m

BHP

12000

Capacity 1

1000m x 72mm

DWT

2499 t

kW

8820

Capacity 2

-

Deck area

390 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 600 bhp

Towdrum pull

250 t

Fuel

670 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

1000m x 72mm

Pot water

325 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 600 bhp

Capacity 2

-

Mud

577 m3

Bollard pull

140 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Brine

247 m3

DP

-

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

360 m3

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

1987

Shipyard

Patje

Previous names

-

Comments

Sold to
ITC

TYPE: Maersk L Type

NAME: Maersk Lifter

PHOTO: Vic Gibson

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

69.7 m

Engines

2 x MAK 8M35

Workdrum pull

250 t

Breadth

15.9 m

BHP

12000

Capacity 1

1000m x 72mm

DWT

2499 t

kW

8820

Capacity 2

-

Deck area

390 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 600 bhp

Towdrum pull

250 t

Fuel

670 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

1000m x 72mm

Pot water

325 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 600 bhp

Capacity 2

-

Mud

577 m3

Bollard pull

140 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Brine

247 m3

DP

-

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

360 m3

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

1987

Shipyard

Patje

Previous names

-

Comments

Sold to
ITC

TYPE: Maersk L Type

NAME: Maersk Launcher

PHOTO: Wim Kosten

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

69.7 m

Engines

2 x MAK 8M35

Workdrum pull

250 t

Breadth

15.9 m

BHP

12000

Capacity 1

1000m x 72mm

DWT

2499 t

kW

8820

Capacity 2

-

Deck area

390 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 600 bhp

Towdrum pull

250 t

Fuel

670 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

1000m x 72mm

Pot water

325 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 600 bhp

Capacity 2

-

Mud

577 m3

Bollard pull

140 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Brine

247 m3

DP

-

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

360 m3

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

1988

Shipyard

Patje

Previous names

-

Comments

Sold to
ITC

TYPE: Maersk L Type

NAME: Maersk Logger

PHOTO: Tony Poll

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA

69.7 m

Engines

2 x MAK 8M35

Workdrum pull

250 t

Breadth

15.9 m

BHP

12000

Capacity 1

1000m x 72mm

DWT

2499 t

kW

8820

Capacity 2

-

Deck area

390 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 600 bhp

Towdrum pull

250 t

Fuel

670 m3

Az Thruster

-

Capacity 1

1000m x 72mm

Pot water

325 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 600 bhp

Capacity 2

-

Mud

577 m3

Bollard pull

140 t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Brine

247 m3

DP

-

Cranes

-

Dry bulk

360 m3

Joystick

-

Tank cleaning

-

Year built

1987

Shipyard

Patje

Previous names

-

Comments

Sold to
Klyne Tugs

TYPE: MAERSK
R
(L)

NAME: MAERSK RIDER

PHOTO:

General

Propulsion

Deck EquipMENT

Length OA

67.11 m

Engines

4 x MAK
8M453AK

Workdrum pull

260 t

Breadth

15.51 m

BHP

14400

Capacity 1

1300m x 76mm

DWT

1930 t

kW

10588

Capacity 2

1300m x 76mm

Deck area

462.5 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x 600 bhp

Towdrum pull

260 t

Fuel

798 m3

Az Thruster

1 x 1080 bhp

Capacity 1

1300m x 76mm

Pot water

419 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x 800 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

290 m3

Bollard pull

151 t

Sharks Jaw

2 x Triplex

Base oil

223 m3

DP

Cranes

Brine

Joystick

Nautronix

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

208m3

Year built

1982

Shipyard

Odense Denmark

Former Names

-

Comments

-

TYPE:
MAERSK C Type

NAME: Maersk Clipper

PHOTO:

General

Propulsion

Deck Equip

Length OA

69.2 m

Engines

MAK4 8M 453 AK

Workdrum pull

250 t

Breadth

15.51 m

BHP

14400

Capacity 1

1200m x 77mm

DWT

2085 t

kW

10600

Capacity 2

1200m x 77mm

Deck area

434 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x
800 bhp

Towdrum pull

250
t

Fuel

953 m3

Az Thruster

Capacity 1

1200m x 77mm

Pot water

350 m3

Aft Thrusters

2 x
800 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

269 m3

Bollard pull

161t

Sharks Jaw

Base oil

DP

Cranes

Brine

Joystick

KaMeWa

Tank Cleaning

None

Dry bulk

174 m3

Year built

1983

Shipyard

Dannebrog

Former Names

Comments

Gone to the
breakers in 2013

TYPE:
MAERSK C Type

NAME:
Maersk Cutter

PHOTO: Tony Poll

General

Propulsion

Deck Equip

Length OA

69.2 m

Engines

MAK4 8M 453 AK

Workdrum pull

250 t

Breadth

15.51 m

BHP

14400

Capacity 1

1200m x 77mm

DWT

2085 t

kW

10600

Capacity 2

1200m x 77mm

Deck area

434 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x
800 bhp

Towdrum pull

250
t

Fuel

953 m3

Az Thruster

Capacity 1

1200m x 77mm

Pot water

350 m3

Aft Thrusters

2 x
800 bhp

Capacity 2

Mud

269 m3

Bollard pull

161t

Sharks Jaw

Base oil

DP

Cranes

Brine

Joystick

KaMeWa

Tank Cleaning

None

Dry bulk

174 m3

Year built

1983

Shipyard

Dannebrog

Former Names

Comments

Gone to the
breakers in 2013.

TYPE: VS
476

NAME:
Maersk Chieftain

PHOTO: Torleif Klokset, Tony
Poll

General

Propulsion

Deck Equip

Length OA

76.4 m

Engines

4 x B&W Alpha

Workdrum pull

300t

Breadth

17.61 m

BHP

14400

Capacity 1

1200m x 74mm

DWT

2440 t

kW

10600

Capacity 2

Deck area

633 m2

For'd Thruster

2 x
1200 bhp

Towdrum pull

350t

Fuel

1398 m3

Az Thruster

Capacity 1

1400m x 64mm

Pot water

508 m3

Aft Thrusters

1 x
1200 bhp

Capacity 2

1400m x 64mm

Mud

618 m3

Bollard pull

160
tonnes

Sharks Jaw

Base oil

213 m3

DP

Cranes

Brine

619 m3

Joystick

Robertson

Tank Cleaning

None

Dry bulk

284m3

Year built

1985

Shipyard

Orskov

Former Names

Storfonn, Oil
Chieftain

Comments

These vessels were all built at Orskov
and spent some time bareboated to OIL, but at the end of the contract
period they were purchased by Maersk. Sold to Blue Star Line in 2013,
renamed Blue Antares.

TYPE: MAERSK M

NAME:
Maersk Master

PHOTO: Vic
Gibson, Tony
Poll

General

Propulsion

Deck Equipment

Length OA

82 m

Engines

3 x MAK
8M35AK

Workdrum pull

300 t

Breadth

18.4 m

BHP

16200

Capacity 1

3300m x 77mm

DWT

2395 m

kW

11912

Capacity 2

3300m x 77mm

Deck area

518 m2

For'd Thruster

2
x 1000 bhp

Towdrum pull

300 t

Fuel

1074 m3

Az Thruster

Capacity 1

1900m x 77mm

Pot water

527 m3

Aft Thrusters

2
x 2720 bhp
az

Capacity 2

1900m x 77mm

Mud

440 m3

Bollard pull

161t

Sharks Jaw

Triplex

Base oil

440 m3

DP

Kongsberg
DP100

Cranes

1 x 5.3 t

Brine

240 m3

Joystick

KaMeWa

Tank Cleaning

Dry bulk

362 m3

Year built

1986

Shipyard

Odense

Former Names

-

Comments

As can be seen from the photograph they incorporate a number of unusual
features the most prominent of which is a hatch forward of the
accommodation. It is probable that the hatch was intended to take deck
load from semi-submersibles prior to rig moves, the ships would then carry
out the move, and then give the cargo back.

However time passes and during the gestation period for the design most
semi-submersibles in the North Sea had been modified to be able to keep nearly all their
cargo on board during rig moves, and so apparently the hatches are not used much.

These ships have a single large screw and two smaller azimuthing thrusters
aft, which is the best theoretical configuration for achieving manoeuvrability and bollard pull.

This
ship
apparently
sold to
a
Nigerian
Company
Butler -
renamed
Butler
Favour.